Read a full match report of the Premier League game between West Bromwich
Albion and Newcastle United at the Hawthorns on Sunday Dec 5 2010.

Chris Hughton held an hour-long dressing-room inquest with his Newcastle United team after they were comprehensively outplayed by West Bromwich Albion. “There was a venting of anger,”he admitted.

No wonder. Newcastle’s defence was shambolic for periods, the midfield went missing in the second half while Andy Carroll looked anything but an England No 9 against the excellent Paul Scharner.

“We’ve given away poor goals,” a frustrated Hughton said. “We came here on the back of a good result [a 1-1 draw] against Chelsea. This season has been one of highs and lows. We’ve picked up some tremendous results and had some disappointing performances.”

If Bolton Wanderers away was the nadir, this was close. “We weren’t good enough in enough departments. There are no excuses. What you want to do after a game like that is get certain things off your chest. An inquest is normal under the circumstances.”

Hughton’s mood contrasted with that of his opposite number. There is such an innate composure to Roberto di Matteo that his West Brom players never panic. Even during an extended blip in November, the Italian kept calm, ensuring his players kept the faith.

“We never lost our confidence,” said Di Matteo, who again refused to look at the league table despite Albion’s leap into eighth place. “I couldn’t care less. I’ll look at the table after our last game.”

Having collected 22 points from 16 games, Albion will have few fears of relegation if they continue to pass and move at speed as they did yesterday.

“It was a brilliant performance,” Di Matteo said. “We’ve got some tough Derby games coming up, at Villa Park and Wolves here, when the atmosphere will be electric. We can go into those games with confidence. People forget we are newly promoted with not a massive squad.”

Albion were good to watch, particularly when Chris Brunt was manoeuvring the ball around with that deft left foot, when Somen Tchoyi was driving down the right or when Jerome Thomas was running down the left.

During one bruising passage in the second half, it appeared to be Kick Jerome Thomas Day with Cheik Tiote, Danny Guthrie, Danny Simpson and Alan Smith going in late. An earlier dive by Thomas had angered Newcastle, who were also aggrieved that Mike Dean never punished the West Brom tumbler with a yellow card.

Newcastle seemed distracted and disjointed for much of the match. Memories of the good displays of Steven Taylor and Sol Campbell against Chelsea swiftly faded at The Hawthorns. Campbell was a magnificently redoubtable last line of defence in his prime but his 500th Premier League appearance confirmed the passing of the years. Taylor, still finding fitness after injury, was similarly caught out.

Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson cannot return soon enough, nor Kevin Nolan’s shielding presence and leadership in front of them. Joey Barton was also badly missed; although his suspension had expired, the midfielder felt his groin tighten in training and was left out as a caution.

In contrast to Newcastle, West Brom were fluid and quick in their movements. Missing Youssuf Mulumbu through suspension, Di Matteo took the bold approach of deploying Graham Dorrans as the anchor of a 4-1-4-1. Not an obvious ball-nicking Claude Makelele-type, Dorrans still impressed, particularly when spreading the ball out wide, where Thomas and especially Tchoyi were making such headway.

Thomas began the move to Tchoyi’s 32nd-minute goal, drifting in from the left, before slipping the ball to the excellent Brunt. The Northern Ireland international eluded Jonás Gutiérrez before inviting Tchoyi to run at Newcastle’s back-pedalling backline. Exploiting the alarming hesitancy of Campbell and Jose Enrique, Tchoyi calmly curled in the ball left footed. “If he performs like that, he’ll play,” smiled Di Matteo at the suggestion the Cameroonian was frustrated at not starting more regularly.

Newcastle briefly flickered with life at the start of the second half, Taylor bringing a good save form Scott Carson and a Gutiérrez effort cleared off the line by Marek Cech, but Albion were mainly in control.

The growing gaps in Newcastle’s midfield and defence were soon filled by speeding West Brom players, especially Peter Odemwingie. When Guthrie slipped in possession near the centre circle, Odemwingie was off and running, charging through the middle, ignoring the call of James Morrison to his right. His finish was strong, placed expertly past Tim Krul. Poor Guthrie; he caught the back of his ankle, departed the field on a stretcher and left the ground wearing a protective boot. He will be assessed by the club doctor today.

Like some of the city’s nightclubs, Newcastle’s defence now seemed to be operating a generous door policy. All visitors were welcome.

Campbell waved a hand in a vague attempt at offside as Odemwingie came sprinting through again, running on to Cech’s driven pass from the left. Krul attempted to narrow the angle but Odemwingie darted around the keeper before striking the ball into the net.

Newcastle managed a consolation, a souvenir for their fans to take back with them. When Carson blocked Carroll’s close-range volley, Peter Lovenkrands swept the loose ball home. But the inquest was soon under way.